Buckle making machine



April 30, 1963 s. LERMA 3,087,227

BUCKLE MAKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 12, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR v Sv-spus/v AER/v14 ATTORN EY April 30, 1963 s. LERMA BUCKLE MAKING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 12, 1.957

INVENTOR STEPHEN L ERA/I4 ATTCRNEY April 30, 1963 s. LERMA BUCKLE MAKING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 12, 1957 INVENTOR STEPHEN LEPMH @&

ATTORNEY April 30, 1963 s. LERMA 3,087,227

BUCKLE MAKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 12, 1957 s Sheets-Sheet 4 Ir-QJ'EwTOR S TEPHEN AER/val BY (kw/u ATTORNEY April 30, 1963 s. LERMA 3,087,227

BUCKLE MAKING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR STEPHEN ZERMA BY a ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,087,227 BUCKLE MAKING MACHINE Stephen Lerma, 141-19 73rd Ave., Flushing 67, N.Y. Filed Aug. 12, 1957, Sex. N0. 677,665 1 Claim. or. 29-3 This invention is a machine for making buckles for garments and the like, and more particularly for covering the metallic frame for such a buckle with a covering material such as cloth, leather or plastic, but which, for convenience, will here be spoken of as plastic. The skeleton frame, as here shown, may comprise a rim of a skeleton A, forming a hollow square having a cross bar B connecting the mid-point of two opposite sides. The rim is deeply dished in cross-section, giving a shallow under face, and in the manufacture of the buckle a fabric or plastic sheet C is bent around the convex surface so formed and folded up into the hollow of the rim. An inner frame D is then forced into the hollow over the edges of the plastic, and the edges of the plastic C and rim A are clamped down over the inner frame.

This invention relates to a new and improved machine for making such buckles more easily and more economically, and of a more reliable quality. The machine of this invention is hereinafter described and is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the device. FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary section of the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 looking in the direction of the arrows. FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary section on the line 33 of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows. FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary central vertical section on a plane parallel to the plane of the paper as shown in FIGURE 1. FIGURE 5 is a section on the line 55 of FIGURE 4. FIGURE 6 is a section of the line 66 of FIGURE 4. FIGURES 7, 8, 9, 10 show details of successive steps in the fabrication of a buckle, all being fragmentary sections through one side of the dies. FIGURE 11 shows the electric circuit for controlling the apparatus, and FIGURE 12. is a perspective view of a complex buckle.

This machine comprises generally, a female die 20 carried upsides down upon a vertically reciprocatory head 21, and two cooperating male dies 22 and 23, mounted upon a slide 24 in such a manner that they can be alternately brought into cooperating position with the female die. This movement of the slide 24, carrying the male dies is accomplished by a piston and cylinder 25 operating a piston rod 26. The vertical movement of the female die 20 is accomplished by a piston and cylinder 27. The die, 22, as here shown is the initial or forming die, and the die 23 is the finishing die.

Before taking up the mechanism for operating these dies in proper sequence, we will describe the construction of each die, and the functions it is to perform.

The forming die 22 (see FIGURE 4) comprises a base 7 block 28 which may be cylindrical in form, which is attached to the slide 24. A rectangular block 29 of almost the size and shape of the finished buckle is mounted on the block 28 and has its upper face hollowed out to leave a peripheral wall 30 of a size and shape to fit into the hollow of the rim A of the buckle. A centering peripheral member 31 is slideably mounted on the outside of the block 29 and is urged upwardly by a spring 32. Its uppermost position is determined by a screw 33 in the peripheral member 31, fitting into a slot 34 in block 29.

The peripheral member 31, when in its uppermost position has a recess or cut-out 35 surrounding the top of the wall 30. This recess has its vertical face 36 spaced far enough from the wall 30 and its bottom face 36a far enough below the top of the wall to permit the skeleton frame of a buckle to rest within it while firmly resting on the top of the wall. This peripheral member 31 has a ICC similar recess 37 of a size and shape to center and support the plastic sheet C which is to cover the skeleton of the buckle.

The female 20 which cooperates with the male dies just described is shown in the upper half of FIGURE 4. The numeral 21 designates a head attached to a piston 27, carrying upon its underface a rim or wall 41 generally similar to the wall 30 except that the thickness of this wall 41 corresponds to the dimensions of the sides of the completed covered buckle.

Fitting within the wall 41 is a core 42, and surrounding the wall 41 is a centering peripheral block 43. The core 42 and the centering block 43 are connected for coordinate movement by a pin 44 movable in slots 45 in the wall so that they may slide up and down relative to the wall, and yet be limited in the amount of such movement. Springs 46, carried in recesses in the core urge the core to its lowermost position as shown in FIGURE 4. A latch 47 pivoted on the head 21 is spring pressed to engage a shoulder 48 on the block 43, so that the core and block cannot be moved upwardly relative to head 21 until the catch is released.

The finishing head (see lower left hand corner of FIG- URE 4) comprises a block 50, also attached to the slide 24, to which there is fastened a flat plate member 51 having an upstanding wall 52 of substantially the same horizontal cross section as the wall 30', but having a more sharply pointed central ridge 53. Within the wall 52 is a core or die 54 which is spring pressed upwardly by springs 55, and it is guided in its upward movement and limited in the upward travel by screws 56, screwed into it, fitting in slots 57 in the wall. On the outer side of the wall 52 is a centering peripheral member or die 58 also slidable on the wall, and urged upwardly by springs 59. The core 54 and the member 58 are connected for coordinate movement by a pin 60 extending through them both, and sliding through a slot 61 in the wall between v them.

The upper edges of the core 54 and the member 58, where they face each other, are bevelled, as shown at 62 to assist in forcing the plastic to enter between the edges of the skeleton to the interior.

The operation of the dies is as follows:

In the manufacture of a buckle a metal skeleton A is laid upon the top of the wall 30 as shown in FIGURE 4, with the concave side of the rim fitting over the convex upper face of the wall 30. The recess 35 is of a dimension to assist in this centering movement.

Thereafter, a pre-cut strip of plastic C is laid over the skeleton and is itself centered by the recess 37 into which it fits. The die 21 is then depressed, thus first engaging block 43 with the plastic and then carrying it down around wall 30, as shown in FIGURE 7, until the plastic folds itself around the skeleton, and both of them are pressed up into the space between the core 42 and the block 43 as shown in FIGURE 7. During this movement the relative position of the wall 41 and of the core 42 and block 43 is maintained because of the latch 47 which prevents relative movement between wall 41, core 42, and block 43.

As the die 20 rises, the partially finished buckle, comprising the curved plastic with the metallic skeleton within it, is left within the female die, as shown in FIGURE 8.

Meantime, an inner frame D has been laid upon the top of the wall 52 lying between the core 54 and the member 58.

The forming die is then moved out from under the die 21 and the finishing die takes its place. A depression of die 21 in this position will first cause the latch 47 to engage a cam 70 on the member 58, releasing the latch 47 from engagement with the shoulder 48 so that any pressure upward on the blocks 42 and 43 will cause them to move upward relative to the wall -41 because the springs 46 are materially weaker than springs 59 and 55.

On depression of die head 21, therefore, while in registry with the finishing die, the core 42 and the block 43 yield until they engage the head 21, at which time the partially finished buckle has been forced down to the position shown in FIGURE 9, and during this movement the projecting ends of the plastic are bent inwardly toward the center by the bevelled surfaces 62. The further depression of the head 21 depresses the core 54 and member 58 until the inner frame D is pushed upwardly and into the interior of the rim of the skeleton, during which movement the downward projecting sides of the skeleton itself are bent inwardly to embrace the inner frame as shown in FIGURE thus holding all parts of the buckle firmly together.

The piston and cylinder 27 for vertically moving the female die are operated by an electrically controlled down stroke control mechanism, here represented as 71. This may be of conventional form.

This control is energized from a main line 90 by the following mechanism in sequence: A line switch 91 is connected by a wire 92 to two manual switches 93 and 94, and then through a line 95 to the solenoid operating mechanism 71, returning back to the line by a wire 95A, and thus, the switch 91 being closed, the solenoid 71 and hence the female die may be operated only by simultaneously depressing switches 93 and 94. One of these switches is on one side of the machine, and the other on the opposite side, so that both hands are required to operate them.

The for-ward and back pistons 25 are also of a conventional type, having a separate electrical control mechanism for each movement. These are all of conventional design and need not be shown in detail. In the wiring diagram of FIGURE 11 these are represented by separate solenoids 101 and 102; 101 being intended for the forward movement of the piston, to place the forming die in registry, and solenoid 102 for the backward movement of the slide, to place the finishing die in registry. Both of these solenoids are operated from a transformer 103, reducing the voltage from 110 to 10, and as here shown, one side of the secondary of the transformer is connected by a wire 104 to each of the solenoids 102 and 101, while the other side is connected by a wire 105 to a switching mechanism composed of switches 106 and 107. Both of these switches are mounted adjacent to the slide 24 and one of them, v106, makes contact when the slide is in the forward position, and the other, 107, makes contact when the slide is in retracted position. (See FIG. 2.) Each of these switches is of a conventional form, comprising a body 106a or 107a, containing the switch and an extending finger 108 or 109, the switches being so arrangedthat when the finger is depressed, contact is made, and when the finger is released the contact is broken; and the slide 24 has two arms, 1'10 and 111, so situated that when the slide is in a forward position the finger 108 will be depressed, and when the slide is in retracted position the finger 109 will be depressed.

These switches 106 and -107, however, do not themselves make or break the circuit, they only determine which direction the slide will move. The energization is controlled from the primary circuit of the transformer.

The primary of the transformer 103 has one side connected by a wire 1 12 to the incoming line'90. The other side of the primary is connected by a wire 113 to a switch 114, mounted on the machine frame and operated'by the vertical movement of head 21. From switch 114 it passes through a contact 115 on switch 93 to'wire92.

The switch 114 which actuates this circuit is best shown in FIGURES 1 and 3. This switch comprises a switch body 116 mounted on the frame, the switching elements being controlled by a depressable finger 117, the depression of which actuates the switch. This finger 117 is depressed by a lever 118 pivoted to the switch body 116 in position to contact the finger 1'17, and it has on its outer end a roller 1 19. An arm 120 carried by the head 21 is in such position that on its upward stroke it will push the lever 118 inwardly, depressing the finger 117 and closing the switch 114, as seen in FIG. 11. This operated through the contact 1-'15-to energize the primary of the'transformer 103.

Since in each position of the slide one or the other of the switches 106 and 107 is closed, and the other opened, it will be clear that on the depression of switches 93 and 94 the solenoid 71 will be energized to depress the head 21 until it engages the die 22, or the die 23, dependent on which position the slide is in. When the switches 93 and 94 are released the head 21 rises upwardly, to its upper position. During this movement the arm 120 engages the roller 119, actuating the solenoids .1011, or 102, depending upon what switch is closed. It will be seen that the slide is moved alternately from one position to another, as soon as the vertical head 20 reaches its uppermost position.

A light switch 121 is mounted beneath the arm 120 and controlls the circuit, to operate a signal light 122, indicating that the closing operation is completed.

The operation of the device will be clear from the description given. The machine, when idle, is electrically dead, the circuit being open at the switch 911. This switch is closed at the beginning of operations.

The switches '93 and 94, on opposite sides of the machine, are so arranged that they cannot be operated by one hand, so that both hands are required to actuate the machine. The buckle frame, as shown in FIG. 12, lettered A, is laid in the forming \die within the recess 35', thereupon the covering material C is laid over it within the recess 37. With the pants in this position, switches 93 and 94 are simultaneouly actuated, thereby energizing solenoid 71, moving the piston assembly 27 to bring the die 20 into engagement with the forrningdie. As soon as block 43 engages member 31 it forces member 31 downwardly, because it, itself, is locked at 48. This bends the plastic sheet around the edges of the buckle skeleton, as shown in FIG. 7. As soon as the die 20 reaches the bottom of its stroke, it goes up again, taking the buckle frame and-the plastic with it, as shown in FIG. 8.

The inner frame of the buckle D may then be inserted in the finishing die 23, above the wall 53.

The upward movement of head 21 actuates switch 114 to move the slide 24, carrying the forming die out of the way of the female die and to bring the finishing die into registry.

The switches 93 and 94 are then again simultaneously closed and the female die, carrying the partly finished buckle descends upon the finishing die, in the condition seen in FIG. 8. When the dies 54 and 58 come in contact with the cover member on the partly formed buckle, the projecting edges of the plastic are bent inwardly by the inclined face 62, as shown in FIG. 9'.

A further depression of the head 21 forces the members 54 and 58 downwardly, until the tapered surface, comprising the upper edge of the wall '53 pushes the interior element D into the interior of the concavity of the edge strips of the buckle skeleton. As the head continues to descend the edge strips of the buckle skeleton encounter the inclined bevels 62, and are themselves, in turn, bent inwardly beneath the bottom .of the inserted strip. As shown in FIG. 10, the buckle is new complete. It can be lifted outof the device as soon as it is raised.

As the head goes up, however, the switch r114 is again actuated, to energize the-solenoid 102, to bring the forming die again into registry for the beginning of the next operation.

What I claim:

A framework supporting a female die for vertical movement, a forming die and a finishing zdie attached to a common base, and means for sliding said base to bring said dies alternately into accurate registry with said fe- References Cited in the file of this patent male die, said forming die having a wall on which a buckle frame may be placed and thereby centered, and a UNITED STATES PATENTS table surrounding said wall, vertically movable and spring 1,251,128 Steedman 1917 supported relatively thereto on which a buckle cover may 5 1,914,514 Lapham June 1933 be placed, said female die having a recess comprising 1,957,842 McDonough May 1934 channels therein conforming in shape to the buckle frame 29091487 Ernst July 1935 upon said wall, but the width of said channels being 2,323,814 Lflmb July 1943 greater than the side bars of the buckle, whereby when 2,594,520 Tledman P 1952 2,790,340 Cross Apr. 30, 1957 the female die is depressed in registry with the forming 10 die, the buckle cover will be folded over the frame and 2,841,859 Spendel July both will be forced into said channels in the female die. 

